United States · California

Black Sears

Black Sears Estate is a small Howell Mountain winery producing Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Estate Zinfandel from volcanic, iron-rich red clay soils at over 2,000 feet elevation on Napa's Howell Mountain AVA. The combination of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel from Howell Mountain is unusual — most estates focus exclusively on one variety — reflecting the historical planting patterns of this remote mountain plateau. At auction, 132 lots have traded at an average of $54, ranging from $22 to $110. Estate Cabernet Sauvignon leads at 18 lots averaging $63; Estate Zinfandel averages $44 across 15 lots. The tight $22-$110 price range indicates consistent secondary market valuation without dramatic vintage premiums. Howell Mountain's volcanic tuff and red clay soils produce wines of distinctively firmer tannins and mineral structure than valley floor Napa, requiring extended aging. Black Sears receives 91-93-point scores from wine media.

Black Sears farms Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel at over 2,000 feet elevation on Howell Mountain's volcanic iron-rich red clay soils — an unusually high-altitude combination of both varieties.

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon averages $63 at auction (18 lots) vs. Estate Zinfandel at $44 (15 lots), reflecting Napa Cab's consistent premium over Zinfandel at the secondary market level.

The $22-$110 auction range is narrow for a Howell Mountain estate, suggesting modest secondary market profile; the estate's 91-93-point scores deliver strong QPR without reaching cult pricing.

Howell Mountain AVA's volcanic soils produce Cabernet and Zinfandel of unusual structure and mineral firmness — wines that require 10-15 years of aging to integrate the mountain tannins fully.

Auction Lots

Avg Price / Bottle

$54

Top Vintage

2006

Price Range

$22 – $110

In the Glass

Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel: Cab shows blackberry, iron mineral, graphite, dried herb, and volcanic-tuff earthiness with firm, mouth-coating tannins and high acidity characteristic of the mountain AVA. Zinfandel on the same soils is more structured and less jammy than warmer valley-floor examples — brambly black fruit, black pepper, dried herb, and tannic austerity. Both wines reward extended cellaring and are distinctly more savory and mineral than Napa valley-floor counterparts.

Portfolio

Wine	Colour	Avg Price	Lots Sold	Top Vintage
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon	Red	$62	19	2009
Estate Zinfandel	Red	$44	15	2006

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Black Sears is based in the California wine region.

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